Mining machine



June 20, 1933. M. P. HOLMES 1,914,505

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Deo. 30, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l @n D QQ S N n y ,Am- 19' mail awp,

June 20, i933. M p HOLMES 1,914,505

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 30, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z5 ZZ l /'-L ,/m/ z i@ 1 ZZ gil/)(5516 3 Z/ U Invent/0r: WOW'MEZWZQJ. y

June zo, 1933. M. R HOLMES 1,914,505

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Deo. 50, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 @wir Patented June 20, 1933 Unire eresie reni" omer.

MORRIS P. HOLlVLES, OF CLAREMONT, Nw HAMPSHIRE, ASSEGNOR T0 SULLIVAN MAGHINERY COMPANY, fl. CORPORATUN 0F MASSACHUSETTS JIENNG MACHINE Application led December 3G, 1929, Serial No. 417,332. `Renewed September 3, 1932.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in mining machines and more particularly has reference to an improved flexible feeding means for a coal mining machine of the continuous cutter, bottom cutting type.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved coal mining machine. Another object is to provide an improved feeding mechanism for a coal mining` machine. Another object is to provide improved iiexible feeding means for a coal mining machine of the continuous cutter, bottom cutting type. A further obj ect is to provide an improved feeding means for a mining machine of the longwall, bottom cutting type which is exceedingly flexible in operation and has embodied therein improved reversing means whereby the feed operating member for they machine may be driven in either of opposite directions without reversing the motor. Still another obj ect is to provide an improved ratchet feed having embodied therein improved feed reversing means. Yet another object is to provide an improved mining machine feeding l mechanism having a novel and extremely compact arrangement of parts. These and other objects of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form and a modification which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coal mining machine having embodied therein the illustrative form of the improved flexible feeding means.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 3--3 of 2.

Fig. 4e is al transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 1 -t of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is view taken Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail transverse vertical sectional view talren on line 6 6 of 3.

Fig. 7 isa detail horizontal sectional view a transverse vertical sectional substantially on line 5 5 of illustrating the main control clutch for the feed drum.

nber. i 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modiied form of construction.

ln the illustrative form of the invention the improved flexible feeding means is shown embodied in a coal mining machine of the iiexibly fed, continuous cutter, longwall type, although it is obvious that the various novel features of the invention may be used with mining machines of various other types. rihe mining machine generally comprises a frame or body 1 having a plane bottom surface 2 on which the machine is slidably supported for movement over the mine bottom. The frame or body 1 is made up of three main sections, i. e., a central motor section 3, a rear cutter carrying section Li, and a front feed frame section 5, these sections being rigidly secured together and when united forming a rigid low compact frame. As is usual in mining machines of the longwall type, there is pivctally mounted on the cutter frame 4 horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis an elongated plane cutter bar 6 supporting on its outer edges an endless cutter bit carrying cutter chain 7. rEhe cutter' bar 6 carries in a usual manner a rotatable locking pin 8 adapted to selectively cooperate with notches 9 formed on a flange integral with the frame section 4, and this locking pin is adapted to lock the cutter bar in its different positions relative to the machine frame. Housed in the motor section 3 is a motor 10 herein preferably of the reversible electric type having its power shaft 11 horizontally disposed and extending longitudinally of the machine. In the present construction, the cutter chain 7 is adapted to be driven from the forward end of the motor through transmission connections housed within the frame section 4 and which herein may be the same as those described in my copending application Ser. No. 136,446, filed Sept. 20, 1926, now matured into Patent No. 1,815,87 2, patented July 21, 1931, In this instance, journaled within the feed frame section 5 of the machine for rotation about a vertical axis is a feed operating member, herein a feed drum 12, having wound thereupon a feed cable 13. Although the fed drum is shown arranged on a vertical axis, it is obvious that it may be arranged in manners other than that shown. Suitable guide sheaves 14 are arranged on upstanding axes at opposite sides of the feed frame section at the front end of the machine and the feed cable 13, after passing around any preferred guide sheave, may be extended in any preferred direction from the machine and attached to the cutter bar and, when disconnected from the bar, to a suitably positioned anchor in a manner which is well understood in the mining machine art. The feed drum 12 may thus be operated to snmp the cutter bar and thereafter to feed the machine transversely across the coal face and to withdraw the bar in a well known manner.

Now referring to the improved driving connections between the motor and the feed drum, it will be noted that keyed to the front end of the motor shaft 11 is a spur pinion 15 meshing with an internal gear 16. As shown in Fig. 3, the gear 16 is j ournaled on a bearing sleeve 17 supported on a horizontal shaft 18. The shaft 18 extends longitudinally of the machine and is suitably supported within the feed frame section 5. As illustrated, formed integral with the 1nternal gear 16 is an eccentric or crank 19 connected by a transverse link or connecting rod 20 extending transversely of the machine at the rear of the feed drum to a crank pin 21. As shown in Fig. 5, this crank pin is carried by an arm or crank 22 keyed to a horizontal shaft 23 suitably journaled within the feed frame. This shaft extendsv longitudinally of the machine and is arranged at one side of the machine frame. The shaft 23 is operatively connected through a reversible ratchet device generally designated 24 to a hollow sleeve or shaft 25 through which the shaft 23 extends as clearly shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the feed drum is disposed substantially in a transverse zone between the connecting rod and the ratchet device, thereby enabling the feed drive parts to be arranged in an extremely compact manner. Secured to the shaft 25 is a worm 26 meshing with a worm wheel 27 keyed to a vertical shaft 28 (see Fig. 4) suitably journaled within the feed frame. The feed drum 12 is journaled onta bearing sleeve 29 supported by the hub of the worm wheel 27 and a bearing sleeve 30 supported by an upstanding flange 31 formed integral with the bottom portion of the feed frame. The shaft 28 is made hollow, and rotatably mounted within this shaft` is a control sha-ft 32 for a clutch 33 for connecting the feed drum 12 to the vertical shaft 28. The control shaft 32 is provided with a socket 34 at its upper end for the reception of a suitable turning instrument. This control shaft is provided with a plurality of recesses 35 forming projections 36 which act as cam members. The shaft 28 is provided with radial slots 37 in which are reciprocably mounted clutch plungers 38. The feed drum 12 is provided with recesses 39 for the reception of the clutch plungers when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 7, that is, when the feed drum is clutched to the shaft 28. Vhen the clutch is connected, the cam-like projections 36 on the control shaft 32 hold the clutch plunger 38 within the recesses 39 on the feed drum. When the control shaft 32 is, turned slightly and the recesses 35 y therein are brought into registry with the slots in the shaft 28, the clutch plungers 38 are free to move inwardly into their released position as shown in Fig. 4. The feed drum 12 is arranged within a transverse chamber 40 extending completely across the bottom part of the feed frame section so that the feed cable may be extended from the feed drum in various directions from the machine.

The improved reversible ratchet device 24 comprises a pawl carrier 41 keyed at 42 to the shaft 23 and carrying sets of oppositely acting spring-pressed pawls 43 and 44. The sets of pawls 43, 44 are adapted to be alternatively brought in coacting engagement with anrinternal ratchet 45 formed on a cylindrical ratchet member 46 keyed at 47 to the shaft 25.. Means is provided for alternatively bringing the sets of pawls into effect and herein comprises a pawl reverse member 48 rotatably mounted on a bearing sleeve 49 supported by the hub of the pawl carrier 41. Formed on the outer periphery of the member 48 are spur gear teeth 50 with which teeth of a spur pinion 51 are adapted te mesh. The spur pinion is formed integral with areciprocable shaft 52 supported within the feed frame. Secured to the outer end of this shaft is anfoperating handle 53 while a spring 54 normally holds the pinion out of mesh with the gear teeth 50. It will thus be seen that when the pinion is brought into mesh with the spur gear on the ratchet reverse member 48 the latter may be rotated in either direction as desired. As shown, the ratchet reverse member 48 is also provided adjacent its outer periphery with an internal projecting vshoulder 56 and, as shown in Fig. 6, is arcuately recessed at 57 at diametrically opposite points. When the member 48 is in the position shown in Fig. 6, the recesses 57 permit the set of pawls 44 to engage the ratchet teeth, while the other set of nawls 43 are held out of engagement with the ratchet teeth by the internal shoulder 56. Vhen the member 48 is rotated into its opposite position, the pawls 44 are held inoperative by the shoulder 55 while the recesses 57 permit the other set of pawls 48 to move into engagement with the ratchet teeth. For holding the ratchet reverse member 48 in its different adjusted positions, there is provided a spring pressed plunger lock 58 arranged within a recess 59 formed in the pawl carrier 41 and engageable with notches formed on the member 48. t will thus be seen that the feed drum 12 may be driven through the ratchet device at a relatively slow speed in either of opposite directions, while the motor 10 operates continuously in the same direction and that the feed drum may be disconnected from its drive at will simply by releasing the main feed control clutch.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 9, the motor pinion l5 and internal gear 16 are omitted and a crank disc 60 is keyed directly to the motor Shaft ll. Formed on the crank disc is a crank pin 6l to which the connecting rod 2O is connected. Otherwise this form of the invention is similar to the preferred form described above. The method of use of the improved feeding means will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art and therefore a description of the mode of operation of the machine is not necessary.

While there is in this application specifically described one form and a modification thereof which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form and a modification thereof are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A mining machine feeding mechanism including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and mechanism for driving said feed operating member in the direction to draw in its cooperating flexible feeding means inclnding a worm wheel, a worm meshing therewith, a liollcw shaft supporting said worm, and mechanism for rotating said shaft including oscillatory elements arranged at opposite ends of said worm and a connecting element extending centrally through said hollow shaft.

2. A mining machine feeding mechanism including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and mechanism for rotating said feed operating member in a direction to draw in its cooperating flexible feeding means including a worm wheel, a worm meshing therewith, and mechanism for rotating' said worm including an oscillatory crank device arranged at one end of said worm, a ratchet device arranged at the other end thereof, and a driving shaft arranged with its axis extending in the same direction as the worm axis for connecting said devices in driving relation.

3. A mining machine feeding mechanism including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and mechanism for rotating said feed operating member in a direction to draw in its cooperating flexible lfeeding means including a worm wheel, a worm meshing therewith, a hollow shaft supporting said worm, an oscillatory crank device arranged at one end of said worm, a ratchet device arranged at the other end thereof, and a driving shaft extending centrally through said hollow shaft forconnecting said devices in driving relation.

4. A mining machine feeding mechanism including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and mechanism for rotating said feed operating member in a direction to draw in its cooperating flexible feeding means including a worm wheel rotatable about a vertical axis, a horizontal worm meshing therewith and disposed on a longitudinal axis, a hollow shaft supporting said worm, an oscillatory crank device arranged at one end of said worm, a ratchet device arranged at the other end thereof, and a driving shaft extending centrally through said hollow shaft for connecting said devices in driving relation.

5. A mining machine feeding mechanism including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and mechanism for rotating said feed operating member in a direction to draw in its cooperating flexible feeding means including a worm wheel, a worm meshing therewith, a hollow shaft supporting said worm, and mechanism for rotating said shaft including a crank disc arranged at one side of the worm wheel axis, a crank at the other side thereof, a transverse connecting rod connecting said crank disc and crank, said crank being arranged at one end of said worm, a ratchet device at the other end of said worm, and a drive shaft extending centrally through said hollow worm shaft for connecting said crank and ratchet device in driving relation.

6. A mining machine feeding mechanism including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and mechanism for rotating said feed operating member in either of opposite directions including a driven member, a driving member, a tubular shaft supporting said driving member, and mechanism for rotating said shaft including an oscillatory element arranged at one end of said driving member, a reversible ratchet device arranged at the other end thereof, connections between said oscillatory element and said ratchet device extending centrally through said tubular shaft, and means for reversing .said ratchet device.

` 47. VA mining machine feeding mechanism including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and mechanism for rotating said feed operating member in either of opposite directions including a driven member disposed on a vertical axis, a driving member disposed on a horizontal axis, a tubular shaft supporting said driving member, and mechanism for rotating said shaft including an oscillatory element arranged at one end of said. driving member, a reversible ratchet device arranged at the other end thereof, connections between said oscillatory element and said ratchet device extending centrally through said tubular shaft, and mechanism for reversing said ratchet device.

8. A mining machine feeding mechanism including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and mechanism for driving said feed operating member in either of opposite directions including a motor driven element, an oscillatory shaft, a crank between said motor driven element and one end of said shaft, a driving element, a reversing mechanism between the opposite end of said shaft and said driving element, and connections between said driving element and said feed operating member.

9. A mining machine feedingy mechanism including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and mechanism for driving said feed operating member in either of opposite directions including a motor driven element, an oscillatory shaft, a crank between said motor driven element and one end of said shaft, a driving element, a reversible variable speed device between the opposite end of said shaftY and said driving element, and connections between said driving element and said feed operating member.

10. A mining machine feeding mechanism including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and mechanism for driving said feed operating member in either of opposite direcro. tions including a motor driven element, an

oscillatory shaft, a crank between said motor driven element and one end of said shaft, a driving element, a reversible step by step speed reducing device between the opposite ,55. end of said shaft and said driving element,

and connections between said drivingelement and said feed operating member.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

- MORRIS P. HOLMES. 

